Broken Cells, Broken Trust: The Case Against Jackson County Jail

Trigger Warning: This article contains references to abuse and inhumane jail conditions that may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Leadership at the Jackson County Jail—from the Sheriff to the jail captain to several staff members—has been named in a pending federal civil rights lawsuit. This is not an accusation against one rogue employee. It’s an indictment of a system. The complaint, still making its way through the courts, is heartbreaking. It contains graphic allegations that paint a disturbing picture of what one inmate endured behind bars. While every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the pattern of lawsuits, settlements, and silence demands public scrutiny. We believe the community deserves to know what’s being claimed—and what’s being done about it.

Let’s just say it—Jackson County has a jail problem. And it’s not just about old walls or a busted camera system. It’s about what’s happening behind those walls. And what continues to happen despite lawsuits, settlements, and promises from leadership that everything’s under control.

We’ve been following the case of Dontay Lavarice Reese, a transgender woman who filed a federal lawsuit—case 23-CV-449—against the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and several individuals connected to the jail. Her story is gut-wrenching. Seven days in a feces-covered cell. Denied water, medical help, and clean clothes. Forced to drink her own urine to survive. Mocked and ignored while visibly in crisis. It’s hard to read, but even harder to look away when you realize this isn’t a one-off.

And here’s where it gets even more troubling—Sheriff Duane Waldera later addressed public concerns with an email that appeared to contradict key allegations.

He stated that his staff fosters dignity and human rights. Yet Reese alleges she was left naked and bleeding on a cell floor with no medical attention. He said the jail’s camera system is operational. Yet court documents claim video evidence of her incident was “misplaced” after a judge ordered it released. He emphasized transparency. Yet Reese’s grievances went unanswered for months, and her access to legal resources was reportedly nonexistent.

So how do we reconcile these two realities?

The truth is—we’ve seen this before.

Earlier this year, Jackson County's insurance company paid out $50,000 to settle another lawsuit filed by Vincent Simone, who also alleged mistreatment while in custody. That case, 2024CV0027, was quietly closed, with no public explanation and zero mention from the sheriff’s office. Just a silent signature on a settlement check and a hope, it seems, that no one would ask questions.

We did. 

And we’re asking again.

We’re asking how a jail that couldn’t manage one lawsuit now has a stack of them. We’re asking how a county can afford to pay settlements but not fix basic camera coverage. We’re asking how a sheriff can claim transparency while key reports are delayed, redacted, or ignored. Still waiting on the 2024 Annual Report.

We’re also asking what happened to Chief Deputy Adam Olson, who was involved in multiple incidents, issued a bold zero-tolerance statement during a sexual assault case, and then quietly left to take a lower-paying patrol job in another county. You don't step down from command unless something behind the curtain is coming undone.

Let’s not forget the case of Bret Noltner, the jailer charged with sexually assaulting a female inmate in 2022. That led to felony charges and a public relations nightmare. The sheriff’s office said all the right things then, too. But saying the right thing and doing the right thing are miles apart.

If this were a work of fiction, it would be bad storytelling—too predictable, too repetitive. But this isn’t a scripted drama. This is Jackson County. This is our jail. This is our leadership. And here’s the reality: the jail’s surveillance system still isn’t fully functional. Critical camera maintenance was delayed for years, and only recently—March 2025—did the county secure a vendor agreement to begin addressing the problem. While other counties, like Trempealeau, have planned and completed entire jail builds in that same timeframe, Jackson County is still untangling wiring and pointing fingers.

What we need isn’t a new jail. It’s new leadership. 

What kind of leadership would step in—not to cover up these failures—but to fix them?

Because when leadership fails, lawsuits follow. And when settlements are quietly paid without public acknowledgment, taxpayers foot the bill—not just in dollars, but in lost trust, reduced inmate safety, and a decline in basic human rights.

Sheriff Duane Waldera claimed in April 2025 that the jail’s camera system is “operational,” but also said upgrades aren’t his responsibility—they fall to a county committee. But what does operational mean when video evidence of alleged abuse, like in the Reese case, ends up “misplaced” after a judge orders its release? What good is a surveillance system if it can’t—or won’t—record when it matters most?

The Sheriff insists that personal observation is more effective than cameras, but that argument avoids the truth: blind spots remain, staff are overworked, and the public has been asking for accountability for years. If the cameras aren’t reliable and leadership isn’t taking responsibility, we have to ask the real question—

Who’s actually watching Jackson County Jail?

So, what do we do?

We shine a light on it.

We report what others won’t.

We ask the uncomfortable questions.

And we’re not done.

We’ve been following the Reese case closely because it matters. Because the truth matters. And because we believe no one should suffer behind closed doors while those in power draft statements and avoid the cameras—if they’re even working.

But stay with us, because what’s coming next is even bigger.

We are reviewing another federal complaint tied to in-custody death, ignored medical warnings, and broken protocols. Stay tuned.

The Sheriff’s Office may not want to talk about it—but we will.

And if you’re reading this wondering how many more lawsuits it’ll take for real change—trust us, you’re not alone.

We saw the comment calling us "very biased"—and you're absolutely right. We are 1000% biased against abuse, neglect, and cover-ups at the Jackson County Jail.

As public scrutiny of the Jackson County Jail continues to intensify, the April 17, 2025 Law Enforcement Committee meeting agenda includes multiple items tied to jail operations—such as ongoing building updates, nursing recruitment, and jail inspection procedures. While these discussions are standard on paper, they come at a time when accountability and transparency are in high demand. The agenda notably includes follow-ups on evidence storage and the annual jail inspection process, raising questions about whether these meetings will finally lead to meaningful change—or simply serve as procedural formalities amid mounting lawsuits and public outcry. 

Follow the Jackson County Pulse for continued updates, deeper investigations, and real questions that deserve real answers.

Because in Jackson County, it’s not just about justice anymore. It’s about whether or not anyone in charge even believes in it.

Want to help us investigate? Know something we don’t? Email us at intheknow@jacksoncountypulse.com

And if you’re still on the fence about all this, we’ll leave you with one question:

What else is happening that we haven’t found out about yet?

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are based on publicly available records, public statements, and community discussions. Jackson County Pulse does not allege wrongdoing unless verified by official sources. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

Sources: 

Dontay Lavarice Reese v. Duane M. Waldera et al., No. 3:23-cv-00449-wmc (W.D. Wis. July 6, 2023). Retrieved from [Filed federal complaint].

Jackson County Sheriff's Office. (2025, April 15). Email correspondence addressing jail operations, camera system, and staff conduct [Internal communication].

Jackson County Law Enforcement Committee. (2025, March 20). Draft minutes of the March 20, 2025, Law Enforcement Committee Meeting [PDF document]. Jackson County Government.

Jackson County Law Enforcement Committee. (2025, April 10). Regular LEC Meeting Agenda – April 17, 2025. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. https://www.jacksoncountywi.gov 

Vincent Simone v. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, No. 2024CV0027 (Jackson Cnty. Cir. Ct. 2024). (Settlement confirmed via public claims record.) 

WEAU Staff. (2022, January 13). Jackson County jailer accused of sexual relationship with inmate. WEAU 13 News. https://www.weau.com/2022/01/13/jackson-county-jailer-accused-sexual-relationship-with-inmate/